Saratoga: Stakes options for Mentor Cane

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After having a scheduled Tuesday workout at Belmont Park canceled due to a wet track, Mentor Cane shipped to Saratoga later that day and on Wednesday worked a sharp half-mile in 47.32 seconds over the Oklahoma training track.

With exercise rider Humberto Gomez up, Mentor Cane went his first quarter in 23.73 and his second quarter in 23.59 while cocking his head to the right through the lane. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.79.

Trainer John Shirreffs said he was pleased with the work but was noncommittal on whether Mentor Cane would run in Sunday’s Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes or wait for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on Aug. 24.

“He was supposed to work yesterday, but we couldn’t do it because of the weather,” Shirreffs said. “Now, everything will depend on the next few days, whether we go in that race or not. I’m not in a hurry to rush him along.”

The Amsterdam, run at 6 1/2 furlongs, is expected to draw Woody Stephens top two finishers Forty Tales and Declan’s Warrior as well as the undefeated stakes-winning New Jersey-bred Rainbow Heir.